Issue No. 55/2005, 14-17 July, 2005
Editorial
One Party Ploy will Not work
Many readers have been asking whether recent developments are not moves to impose a de facto one party state. They refer to the declaration by the Supreme court of all opposition seats vacant and the sacking of the Chairman of the IEC and two other electoral commissioners by the President.
The fact of the matter is that the people are the final arbiters who can allow the abuse of power to continue or to make democracy work. The National Assembly has no single member from the opposition. The electorate in the forthcoming by-elections will therefore be faced with just one question: Are they in support of a one party state or a multi party democracy? If they are in support of one party state, then they will vote for the APRC. In which case the National Assembly will consist of entirely APRC members, who dare not speak for fear of losing their seats, just as it has happened in the case of a former NAM, Dawda Bah. Mouths will be closed and voices silenced. The electorate will have given the President a carte blanche to spread his tentacles on all arms of the state. Then sycophants in their desperate search for power would sing praises and encourage him to exhibit even more monarchical tendencies. Terror and fear will then be the order of the day.
On the other hand, if the electorate are in support of multiparty democracy, irrespective of the party they support, they will vote for the opposition to rescue democracy from oblivion. Critical voices will be heard in the National Assembly which will function as a check, rather than a rubber stamp of the executive. This will widen the democratic space and strengthen peace and stability.
Rather than engaging in empty threats, Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay should advise and encourage the President to conduct himself more like a statesman who should know what to say, how to say it, when to say it and where to say it. She should advise him to be magnanimous. She should advise him to avoid threats and blackmail, undemocratic and unconstitutional behaviour. She should also advise him that he is just one Gambian with one vote, like any other Gambian; that if he is voted out what can he do, other than leave office? If he tries to do otherwise, he’ll be in deep trouble. She should remind him that tyrants like Hussein Habre, have been haunted by the past while democratic minded ex-presidents like Nyerere and Mandela move about freely and are held in high esteem.
“Whatsoever one soweth so shall one reap.” If you sow democracy you will reap democracy. If you sow tyranny you will have to account for your deeds.
That’s how matters stand.
CURRENCY APPRECIATION WITHOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
During the adjournment debate at the National Assembly, Hon. Halifa Sallah, the Minority Leader and Member for Serrekunda Central, told deputies that the appreciation of a currency does not necessarily mean economic development. He said this is so because if an economy is dwindling, the business community starts to import less and there are also company flights. “As a result of these”, Hon. Sallah said, “one would have a high supply of foreign exchange without its corresponding demand or competition for it.” He said in that sense, one can also have an appreciation of a currency. Halifa stressed that there is need to critically examine the Gambian economy under the present circumstances. Hon. Sallah argued that it is not only enough to talk about the Dalasi appreciating in value but to go to business community and ask them their sales and also look at the flight of businesses to Guinea Bissau, he posited. Halifa pointed out that these are the dangers that our economists must not
only look at the currency and say that it is going up. He asserted that poverty is on the increase which is a major concern. He challenged the economists to concentrate on the economies and see what is actually happening with out exportation and importation as well as the company flight and direct foreign investment that are coming into the country. He argued that such a study is very important to understand if we are to understand whether we are moving towards depression or whether we are actually moving towards economic development. Halifa said that this is necessary because the poverty of the people is really increasing without a significant increase in income. He concluded by saying that even the rice that they said was brought by the government cannot be sold at cheap prices.
NO EFFECTIVE TELECOM SERVICE IN NIAMINA WEST
During the question and answer sessions in the National Assembly, the NAM for Niamina West, Hon. Ahmad Samba Sallah, raised the following question: “Mr. Speaker, could the SoS for Communication, Information and Technology, explain to this august assembly, why telecommunication services is not still effective in Niamina West? In response, SoS Edward Singhateh on behalf of Scattred Janneh indicated that Niamina West is to be served by the Air Span project. He said the project was delayed for the following reasons:
1. Delay in approval from Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) towards the construction of a masts for the Air Span Project
2. Lack of material locally for the construction of the masts and frames within the Gambia and Senegal. However he said, work is in progress
3. Local manufacture of the masts has been very slow. Consequently, the deployment to identified villages has also been slow.
MANSAKONKO COUNCIL COLLECTS D8.4 MILLION
During the question and answer session, Halifa Sallah, read the following questions on behalf of Kemeseng Jammeh, who was away. “Mr. Speaker could the SoS for Local Government and Lands inform this august Assembly as to the total revenue collected by the Mansakonko Area Council for the period January 2002 to date?” In response, SoS Ismaila Sambou indicated that the Mansakonko Area Council has collected the sum of D8,470,682.09 (eight Million, four hundred and seventy Thousand, six hundred and eighty two dalasis and nine bututs) for the period 2002 to date as follows:
2002 – D2,438,383.22
2003 – D2,463,718.36
2004 – D2,572,156.42
2005 – D996,424.00 (Jan. – June)
In the same vein, the Member raised the following question: “Mr. Speaker, could the SoS also provide a detailed account of the projects implemented in the six districts of the Lower River Division?” In response, SoS Sambou said the projects implemented in the six districts of the LRD are as follows:
PROJECT LOCATION COST
1. Main Soma Market Jarra West D364,354
(counterpart funding)
2. Soma Abattoir Jarra West D16,000
3. Soma Market Toilets Jarra West D45,000
4. Cattle Drinking Point Jarra West
(Sankwia) D28,000
5. Contribution to Tesito Jarra West
on Road rehabilitation (Sankwia Jaduma Ward) D3,500
6. Bureng Public Latrine Jarra East D12,000
7. Kwinella Abattoir Kiang Central D7,000
8. Contribution to Tesito Kiang West D5,600
on road rehabilitation (Julafarri Ward)
This is in addition to other council commitments and expenditure such as payments of commission to Alkalolus, scholarships, youth and sports development etc.
MISMANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES LEADS TO PRIVATISATION!
In his contribution to the Adjournment Debate, the Minority Leader and Member for Serrekunda Central, Hon. Halifa Sallah, indicated that the mismanagement of public enterprises leads to privatization. He said he raised a question regarding GAMCO in the National Assembly and the answer was given. He indicated that D57.8 million was given to GAMCO and that they have been told that D120million had been taken from Guarantee Trust Bank Ltd., as loan. He said this was guaranteed by SSHFC. Hon. Sallah asserted that public enterprises are to supplement government revenue, but if we do not have productive public enterprises, government would have to rely entirely on taxation to generate revenue and this is the reason why the tax base is widening and becoming heavier on the people. He said if one looks at the sales tax, for example, in 2002 it was D486 million while in 2004 it was D819 million; noting the same thing goes with international taxes.
Halifa stressed that these are clear indications that the tax base is expanding in terms of what we are trying to generate in revenue, while at the same time we are putting the public enterprises in problem. Hon. Sallah stressed that the mismanagement of public enterprises lead to privatization and warned that if all the public enterprises are privatised, government would solely rely on taxation which will automatically increase the suffering of the people who are to shoulder the cost. Hon. Sallah cited the SSHFC as an example, which spent D45 million to purchase Mariatou Beach Hotel and spent over D300 million to refurbish it. He said they’ve now been told that the same SSHFC has acted as guarantor for GAMCO which has failed. Halifa challenged his colleagues to establish a committee to look into public enterprises which is a mandate given to them under section 175 (4) of the constitution, which reads “Within six months of the coming into force of this constitution, an Act of the
National Assembly shall establish a committee to monitor the operations of public enterprises and shall prescribe the manner in which such enterprises shall be accountable to the National Assembly and shall conduct their affairs in order to promote efficiency, transparency and probity in all their undertaking.” Halifa said their present committee deals with the finances of public enterprises, noting they are required by law to establish a committee on public enterprises. “So it is essential that we ensure that a committee is established to monitor public enterprises.”
FACTS FROM FICTON ABOUT IEC
After the pending outcome of the shooting of lawyer Ousman Sillah, which happened in the midst of the trial of Baba Jobe’s case, I thought the best medical advise probably a heart patient like me can take is just to build up a complete disinterest in Gambian politics and things happening around the government of this country by turning a deaf ear and blind eye and look on things as they happen.
This is owing to the anger and frustration that befall me as a result of the undemocratic actions, injustices and unacceptable manners our president and his government have indulged themselves into. These are so numerous that one hardly finds space to mention them all, and it is common health knowledge that excessive emotional feelings are not good for a heart patient.
However, the anger and frustration that befell me upon the sacking of the IEC Chairman and two Commission Members, not to talk of the flimsy excuses given by the President for his thoughtless and selfish move, are exceptions, unbearable exceptions indeed. Given the circumstances therefore, I have decided to put pen to paper to vehemently articulate my feelings as a good treatment for my heart.
Mr. President, all the four reasons you advanced for the sacking of the IEC Chairman and the two Commission Members are not only flimsy excuses but also erroneous, unfair, selfish, baseless, unjustifiable, childish and merely politically motivated.
In the first place to say that the IEC, after being informed of the vacancy of seats of the Opposition NAMs by the Clerk of the National Assembly went to court to defend the Opposition NAMs was indeed erroneous. It was the Opposition NAMs who took IEC itself together with the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Attorney General to the Supreme Court by an injunction filed in by their lawyer. In order words the IEC itself was a defendant in this matter. There were three defendants: the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Attorney General and the IEC. The plaintiffs were Opposition NAMs.
The inclusion of the IEC in the injunction filed by the plaintiffs was meant to seek a Supreme Court order that would bar them (IEC) from holding any by-election in their constituencies as it might have been unconstitutional.
You went further to link this case with that of Dawda Bah, the then APRC NAM for Nianija. But what you failed to note is that, that was a clear-cut matter. Dawda Bah was expelled from your party (infact for a comment which he owed to the poor farmers he was representing). So his APRC membership ceased. That was why there was no dispute in that issue.
Therefore the IEC could just act upon receiving information of the vacancy of his seat from the Speaker of the House and start planning a by-election to be held in the constituency within 90 days. In the case of these Opposition NAMs you failed to realize or apparently just neglected the fact that these NAMs were also served with the letter indicating to them that their seats have been declared vacant at the same time that the IEC was informed. So the Opposition NAMs responded openly, rejecting the decision on a point of law and subsequently resorted to court action. So you wanted the IEC just to jump between, stop the Supreme Court from hearing the matter and call for by-election because this is what is in your interest? What do you want, chaos in the country? Does the IEC have that power? You do not even have the power.
I think that with common sense, one can see that the IEC acted the right way the constitution expects of them, that is to remain calm and allow the body responsible for interpreting the constitution to make a decision. What makes your reasons even more childish and unacceptable is that even if the IEC had chosen to act the way you wanted as can be seen from your press release, they would be limited by the time frame for by-elections, which is within 90 days.
Your reason as to why you sacked the IEC Chairman and two Commission Members is that you hold them responsible for the alleged killing of an APRC supporter by some UDP supporters during the 2001 election campaign. This, according to you, is simply because the IEC was not exercising the codes of conduct which are set to ensure a peaceful campaign period. May I ask you: How should they have been exercising such codes of conduct when you already accepted the results of the elections just because you wanted to be president? You wanted them to be running after political parties village after village during their campaign? Or is the IEC a security institution for its staff to be on guard duties to ensure that there is no violence?
What the IEC should do which I know they have been doing, having been on election duties with them many times, is to make the party supporters understand the codes of conduct which should guide their campaigns very well. So it is these party supporters who are expected to be law abiding enough to make sure they and their supporters keep to the limits of the codes of campaign. IEC would just then be carrying out periodic observation trips to the campaign areas to see if things are going on as prescribed. Because the mere constant presence of IEC officials around campaign areas could be misinterpreted against their integrity as fair players, an integrity which they should at all times endeavour to uphold. This is why only periodic observations are expected from them and where they find violence or a possibility for it, they should just alert the nearest security agency to intervene and act accordingly. I know the IEC have been doing this very well and this particular APRC/UDP
clash you were citing was no exception. They Police were duly informed. The came and did their job. It was just unfortunate that the death occurred before the situation was put under control. Subsequently, you resorted to legal action with a charge of murder made against the UDP leader and co. The law took its course and judgement was not in your party’s favour. May be it is your failure in this case that angers and infuriates you. But the IEC is not a law enforcement institution and could have no hand whatsoever in the said incident you were citing.
Mr. President, your allegation that the IEC failed to ensure that there was enough light in polling booths to enable the electorate to properly identify the different ballot boxes is the most unsubstantiated of all. Those conversant with the activities of the IEC will bear me witness that the institution attaches sufficient importance on brightness not only in the polling booths but also in the counting centres. Electoral teams are supplied with candles to put in the polling booths by the early hours of polling day as polling starts at 7.00 am, by which time the place might be dark.
Infact, the first time I saw the big candle which is sold for D6.00 in the shops was when I was on an election duty. I was also on all elections duty where I served as Assistant Returning Officer (ARO), supplied with a dark red rechargeable florescent lamp, which radiates very bright light indeed when switched on. This was for use in the counting centres by AROs as counting goes into the night. This was distributed throughout the country.
Prior to Election Day, all AROs are provided with vehicles to visit all the designated polling stations within their respective constituencies. This is even preceded by earlier visits which shall have been made by all regional electoral officers to all polling stations in their respective administrative areas before the arrival of the AROs, weeks before election day. All these are done to ensure that the polling station compartments are well situated for the purposes of secrecy as well as brightness.
Finally, Mr. President, I am vehemently opposed to your perception of the IEC’s usage of yellow ballot tokens for the elections as a way of technically siding with the UDP, as the colour of this party is yellow. It is true that the electoral laws do not allow any election material to be in the colour of any political party. But I think the IEC knew this better than you. That was why they took the initiative to change it to a colourless one. Infact what I am not sure of is whether those yellow tokens were not here since former President Jawara’s time. If this is the case, then you are even more erroneous, since this means that the IEC came to change it but did not introduce it at all. Nonetheless, the change was effected. So what do you want Mr. President? For it to be changed again to green because one time it was yellow.
Another move by the IEC which is yet another _expression of their impartiality in the colours they use, is seen in the change they effected on the colour of the ballot tokens, printed in their logo. These used to be ash in colour but with the emergence then of a new political party called NDAM, it was changed to pink as the party colour of NDAM is ash. Is this not enough.
Yahya Jammeh, you have to think twice always before you talk or take action. Presently, most of the opposition criticisms levelled against you are directed towards your constant undemocratic and unjustifiable hiring and firing of public officials, to safeguard your political interest. But no matter how long you aspire to remain in power be mindful that at some point you may be taking the wrong decision. Decisions which may have far reaching effects in provoking the peace and stability of this country.
An electoral commission is not only a very sensitive institution but also one that requires independence in any given country; even much more sensitive as a country draws nearer and nearer to elections. Tampering with it might amount to tampering with the peace and stability of a country.
The Gambia’s IEC is a very efficient institution, very fair and transparent indeed. The proof of this is the coming in of those of Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau to learn from our IEC because they want their electoral systems to be as good as that of the Gambia.
Since its inception, the IEC has conducted all its activities well to the satisfaction of the international community, and the Gambia is being applauded for this. Though I am opposed to your government, mainly because of your undemocratic stance, your lack of respect for the rule of law and numerous violations of human rights, I always challenge the opposition or anybody when they accuse the IEC of unfairness in their activities simply because I am always in the centre of activities of the IEC, from registration to the counting of votes and I have witnessed nothing in the operations of this commission, but fairplay. I always emphasize to my friends that you won the last election freely and fairly.
So Yahya Jammeh re think your recent decision about the IEC. The experience of these sacked officials shouldn’t be sacrificed for the unknown. Forget about your selfish political ends and take the interest of the nation at heart. An electoral commission must rely on the competence and experience of its decision makers, to ensure a peaceful election.
Never try to imagine that I have anything personal to protect in this matter. Neither a personal liking for these sacked officials nor my state of being opposed to your government, prompted this write-up. Not at all. It is the difference that exists between the IEC and what you are now accusing them of, coupled with the sensitive nature of such an attack on the commission at this material point in time, which really provoke me to put pen to paper, of course, anticipating that words of caution would be derived and utilised in the interest of the Gambian citizenry.
By a Very Concerned Citizen
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